Yay three reviews! Took much longer than I'd hoped for. For the two reviewers that requested Nicol's piano theme, sorry I've been prettybusy all week but I am going to send it over within the next half hour after posting this chappie. And since I'm really lazy today, I'm not going to thank individual reviewers, but as a whole. So thank you reviewers!

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Gundam Seed. If I did, I'd be the happiest person on earth.

Enjoy this chappie!

CHAPTER TWELVE: FLIGHT OF TERROR

"Rin, we should head back now," Athrun said to her after a moment. "They'll be looking for us."

"Oh. Right."

Taking her by the hand, Athrun led her back to the room containing the mobile suits. It was a good thing he had been there, otherwise she would never have been able to find her way back. The area was deserted, save for one person climbing into the Freedom: Kira. Rin's heart gave a tremendous jolt; her hands began to shake uncontrollably.

Athrun gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "Easy now," he murmured. Rin looked at him, her eyes big. "Calm down. Everything's okay." Rin sighed and continued to let Athrun lead her to the Harmony.

Kira then noticed them, and when he spoke, Rin's stomach gave a lurch. "Athrun, Rin, you made it," he said happily, but there was something false in his voice, mixed with all the relief. "We were getting worried. We're launching into space now. The Archangel's launching first, and we're going to provide backup. Then we'll use the Kusanagi to get us into space."

"All right, Kira," Athrun said. He left Rin and she climbed aboard the Harmony. Athrun went to Kira before going to the Justice. "She found out," he muttered.

"I know," Kira said in a low voice, so that Rin couldn't hear. "Is she okay?"

"She will be, eventually, I think," Athrun said. "She's calmed down, at least. Come on, let's get going."

As Rin prepared to launch, a million thoughts flew through her mind, intertwining with one another and bouncing against the walls of her mind so that they just kept coming back. Kira killed Nicol. He killed my brother. But he's been good to me otherwise. He's a kind person who'd rather not fight. Athrun is his friend. Athrun doesn't care about my feelings. He just wants to protect his best friend, Kira. He doesn't care that Kira killed Nicol. Yes, he cares. Nicol died to save him. Of course Athrun cares. He even blames himself, not Kira. But that's because he's just taking the blame to protect Kira. No, she told herself sternly, her hands shaking as she launched. You can't think that way. You made a promise to Nicol. Now honor that promise and kick some butt.

The Justice and the Freedom launched on either side of her, and instantly the Calamity, Forbidden, and the Raider came charging for them. Rin hurried to engage with the Calamity, while Kira took the Forbidden and Athrun took the Raider. A fierce battle ensued, with neither side having the clear advantage. Rin also noticed that the Calamity had been upgraded and re-supplied. She'd have to be more careful this time around.

The Calamity fired two beams at her and she countered with her shield while at the same time firing a beam at the mobile armor's cockpit. Her heart gave a sickening lurch when she realized where she'd been aiming, but her opponent blocked it and she shook herself over.

I'm being an idiot now, she thought angrily. I can't start getting all emotional again. I've already killed many Earth Alliance soldiers, even a few ZAFT ones. My own kind. I'm used to this. Besides, these guys are enemies and I have to shoot them down or be shot down! But…heh…then I'd see Nicol again…NO! I have to finish what I started. I have to keep going! For Nicol!

And at that moment, everything changed. Rin didn't know what was the cause of it, but suddenly everything became clear. Every single attack headed for her…every dodge, every block…it was enabling her to visualize what the Calamity would be doing next. She could see it!

She fired missiles at the Calamity and the mobile armor dodged up, just as Rin was expecting. She fired some beams right above him and he dodged downwards, just as she was charging towards him with her beam sabre, and before he could do anything, she had sliced off both legs of the mobile armor. Then, before he could further react, she was on top of him, ready to pierce through the cockpit and destroy the ship –

"Rin, get back here!"

A beam came out of nowhere and shot the beam sabre out of her hands. Rin looked to see who had made the shot, and was startled to see that it was Kira.

Kira, she thought in shock and anger. Why did he stop me?

The three enemies all seized the opportunity to fire simultaneously at her. The shots were coming from each direction, too fast to dodge…she was going to be hit!

More missiles came from Kira's direction, but this time it was Athrun that shot them. They collided with the enemies' attacks and Rin flew upwards to get away from them. Still, Rin was angry at Kira now. Why did he stop her? She was about to get rid of the machine once and for all…

"Rin, get back here now!" yelled Kira, firing beams to distract the enemy mobile armors.

"Shut up!" Rin shot back. "I was about to –"

"RIN!" shouted Athrun urgently.

It was his cry, above all else, that snapped Rin back to reality. The Archangel had already launched and was well out of sight, and the Kusanagi was…

"NO!" cried Rin in terror, putting on as much speed as she could. The Justice and the Freedom already had good grips on the Kusanagi, which was almost at the lift of the launching ramp. To make matters worse, the Calamity, Forbidden, and the Raider were all firing beams at her, trying to take her down. Kira and Athrun were shooting at the water right in front of them to raise up walls of water to block them, and though it helped, Rin wasn't near close enough to the Kusanagi to get on.

"Rin!" yelled Athrun, extending a hand of his mobile suit to her as far as he dared to stretch. "Hurry, Rin! Grab on! You can do it!"

Rin stretched out as much as she could, but it was still not good enough. Now the Justice was no longer holding on to the Kusanagi; if it weren't for the Freedom's grip then it, too, would be like her. Rin's speed was at its maximum, yet the Kusanagi was accelerating so much that she was falling ever so slightly behind…

"AAAHH!" she shrieked, reaching even further, and she did it – one of the Harmony's hands connected with that of the Justice. She was on, she was safe…

But the Freedom was struggling. "I – I can't hold on like this!" yelled Kira as the Kusanagi shot upwards up the ramp, about to launch. And Rin knew what was happening. At this speed, the force pushing down on them would throw all three mobile suits off if Athrun didn't get his grip on the ship in time.

"Athrun!" Rin screamed, as the force pushed down on her, trying to pry her away from the Justice. "Don't let go! Please! Athrun!"

And the Kusanagi launched, flying up towards space, and Athrun got his grip.

Panting hard, Rin felt the edges of her vision blur, and she closed her eyes, relaxed, and sighed in relief.

"No, Rin!"

Rin's eyes snapped open. When she had relaxed, her grip on the Justice had done so as well. Before she realized what was happening, before she could tighten her grip again, she was falling, down, down, down, towards the ocean awaiting her just below.

"ATHRUN!" she cried, tears flooding her eyes, and her machine landed in the water with an almighty splash, explosions ringing out from the distance. Then her vision blurred completely, and Rin knew no more.